OFFICIAL: Juan Ayuso breaks his contract with UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the end of the season

It was sung for months, but it seems that the relationship between Juan Ayuso and UAE is finally coming to an end. It all started at the Tour de France 2024, when the Spaniard did not accept to do the job for Tadej Pogacar, an attitude that felt very bad within the team. At this Vuelta a España, the situation is not improving and is doing the same with João Almeida.

UAE Team Emirates - XRG counts on Pogacar and the others cannot aspire to more than just being domestiques. And Ayuso is no exception. His temper tantrum in last year's Tour earned him a ban from La Vuelta as a punishment. The 2025 started in the best way, with very interesting results and the complete and absolute leadership in the Giro d'Italia, although it didn't go as expected.

Both La Gazzetta dello Sport and AS and Marca have confirmed that the news will be known in the next few hours. Lidl-Trek is the first option and it seems that it will be the one that will end up happening. The American team is creating a serious GC team and the 22-year-old Catalan could be the culmination for the team they have been building for a couple of seasons.

The Giro could have been a kind of reconciliation, but bad luck joined Juan Ayuso and he was forced to abandon when he was well placed in the general classification. As if that wasn't enough, it also meant the explosion of Isaac del Toro, another UAE talent who is a year younger than the Spaniard and could have become another rival within the team's structure.

The UAE team itself has issued a statement via social media, confirming the departure of Ayuso at the end of this year.

Mauro Gianetti, CEO of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, was the first to speak: "Juan has been a valuable talent and we are grateful for what we have built together. At the same time, our sporting project has always focused on continuity, group harmony and building a winning team. We believe that, in the best interest of both parties, this decision is the most consistent with the values that define our organization. UAE Team Emirates - XRG will continue on its path of growth and development, convinced that the identity and strength of the team remain our foundation. We wish Juan every success in the future," commented the Swissman.

Juan Ayuso himself has also wanted to leave his words about his years in UAE: "I want to thank the team for the support and opportunities they have given me over the years. I have had the opportunity to grow and compete with the best, and I know that what I have learned will always be part of my professional career. Now I feel it's time to take a different path, with the same enthusiasm, and I wish UAE Team Emirates - XRG every success in the future," said the Spaniard after spending four and a half seasons in the structure.